Control switch means for clotheswashing machines



April 4, 1950 K. CLARK 2,502,823

CONTROL SWITCH MEANS FOR CLOTHES-WASHING MACHINES Filed Nov. 4, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 2 I ENVENTOR. m2 /03 B; 9%

0 u. 205 soon E San 3w K CLARK 2,502,823

CONTROL SWITCH MEANS FOR CLOTHES-WASHING MACHINES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 9" WINVENTOR. /C24M M BY MEG/M April 4, 1950 Filed Nov. 4, 1944 Patented Apr. 4, 1950 CONTROL SWITCH MEANS FOR CLOTHES- WASHING MACHINES Kendall Clark, Oakwood, Ohio, assignor to General Motors Corporation, Dayton, Ohio, a corporation of Delaware Application November-4, 1944, Serial No. 561,856

2 Claims. (Cl. 17197) This invention relates to washing machines, and more particularly to the automatic control of such washing machines.

An object of this invention is to provide a centrifugal washing machine with a control such that when the access door is opened, the centrifugal action is automatically stopped or prevented.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein a preferred form of the present invention is clearly shown.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a diagrammatic representation of the washing machine and its controls;

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic representation of the timer control, in combination with the electrical elements of the machine; and

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic representation of the control knob for the timer, together with a diagram of the position of the contacts at various times.

A washing machine, according to this invention, includes a centrifugal basket 50, which may be centrifugally rotated to dry the clothes. An agitator 5| may be placed inside of the basket, for agitating the clothes prior to the centrifugal action. The basket or tub 50 and agitator 5| are actuated by power means such as a transmission 52, which is actuated by a motor 53, the transmission being controlled by a solenoid 54. When the motor 53 is energized, together with the solenoid 54, the agitator is not reciprocated; but the tub 50 is centrifugally rotated at a sufficient speed to wring the clothes. When the motor 53 is energized while the solenoid 54 is deenergized, the agitator 51 is reciprocated. When the solenoid 54 is deenergized while the tub 50 is rotating, a braking action is applied to the tub 50,t0 stop it quickly. Any type of motor and transmission may be used for accomplishing this purpose, such, for example, as is disclosed in my copending application S. N. 511,515, filed November 24, 1943, now matured as Patent Number 2,422,395, dated June 17, 1947, for Domestic appliance.

An access door 56 is provided in the cabinet 55 for introducing the clothes and detergent into the tub 50. A door switch 51, hinged at l8 and closing contacts at I1, is actuated by the rod 58 so that the contacts l1 are opened whenever the door 56 is opened, and vice versa.

A timer 10 is provided, which controls the flow of electrical power from the lines L1 and L2 to the various electrical elements of the washing machine.

The washing machine is filled with water from the hot water connector and a cold water connector 59. These connectors discharge into a thermostatic mixing valve 6|. The hot water connector also discharges into a hot water line 1 I. The mixing valve 6| discharges into a mixed water line 12. The lines 1| and 12 are controlled by solenoid valves 63 and 62 respectively, and discharge into a common outlet chamber 64.

This chamber is connected by a line 13 to a constant pressure valve 65, which maintains a constant pressure of water on the line 14, which in turn discharges through a fixed orifice 66 and a nozzle 61 at a constant flow rate into the tub 50. The arrangement is such that the timer 10 opens the selected solenoid valve 62 or 63 for a sufficient length of time so that the constant volume discharge of water at the nozzle 61 fills the tub 50 to the correct level during each filling operation. The position of the handle 81, of the selector switch 88 determines whether the movable contact 89 of the switch 88 contacts I! or IE. When the handle 81 is on the indication Hot," contact 89 engages l5, and the hot water solenoid 63 is energized for the first filling operation. During the second and third filling operations, the mixed water solenoid 62 is energized regardless of the position of contact 89.

Fig. 2 shows the timer construction diagrammatically. It includes a timer motor 20 which moves a small gear 2| intermittently, such as at one-half minute intervals. This gear in turn actuates a larger gear 22, which is fixed to a rotatable shaft 23. The shaft 23 carries a plurality of rotatable cams 24, 25, 26 and 21 which are in engagement with movable blades 26, 29, 30 and 3| respectively, and which carry movable contacts 6, 4, l I and S-respectively. The earns 24, 25, 26 and 21 have been indicated by dotted circles; but it is understood that they actually are irregularly shaped cams, so shaped that the movable contacts 6, 4, II and 8 are actuated at selected intervals of time, as indicated in Fig. 3. Fig. 3 shows the indications on the knob 36, which are inside of the circle 35. The numerals on the outside of circle 35 indicate the positions of the movable contacts at the various intervals of time, as the shaft 23 is rotated clockwise. The knob 36 is provided with an irregular orifice 31 which fits over the irregular end 38 of the shaft 23. The knob 36 is axially secured to the shaft 23, so that, when the knob 36 and shaft 23 are moved slightly axially, a master switch movable contact 2 is moved into and out of contact with master switch stationary contact I. The movable contact 2 is carried by a movable blade 39 which has its upper end in axial engagement with the shaft 23. Whenever the knob 36 is pulled towards the operator, the contacts I and 2 are opened. and

whenever the knob is pushed away from the op-- erator, the contacts I and 2 are closed. A suitable snap acting mechanism is provided for allowing the shaft to be placed in these two axial positions. This may take the form of a double groove ring 48 carried by the shaft 23 in which a springpressed pin 4 I rides, so that the ring 48 snaps from one position to the other.

Whenever the movable contact 8 engages contact 3, the solenoid 54 is energized, so that the tub 58 is centrifugally rotated. However, since the switch 51 is open whenever the door 55 is open, the solenoid 54 cannot be energized with the door open. Therefore, should the operator open the door while a centrifugal action is taking place, the solenoid 54 would be deenergized, and the centrifugal action would be changed to agitation. Also, if the door 58 should be left open during any previous operation, then, when the timer reaches a spin position, the solenoid 54 cannot be energized, and the agitator is reciprocated and the tub 58 is not rotated. I

When 8 contacts I one of the water solenoids 62 or 83 is energized and water is introduced into the tub,.depending on the position of contact 89. When II, contacts I8, the mixed water solenoid 52 is energized and mixed (tepid) water is introduced into the tub regardless of the position of 89. When II contacts I2, the running winding of motor 53 is energized. When 3 contacts 4, the timer motor 28 is energized. When 5 contacts 6, the starting winding of motor 53 is energized. All of the above energizations are dependent on the knob 36 being manually pushed in to close contacts I and 2.

In the operation of the device, the door 56 is opened and clothes and detergent are placed in the tub 58. The door then should be closed and the knob 36 should be pushed away from the user to close contacts I and 2 and the knob 38 should be turned clockwise from the off position S (where the timer previously had stopped) to the start position at A. Just before reaching position A, the cams are actuated so that contacts 3 closes on 4 and contact I closes on 8 as indicated at A. Current flows from L1 through I, 2, 42, 3|, 8, I, 43, 83, I5, 44, 63, 45 and L2. This energizes the hot water solenoid and starts the flow of hot water into the tub 58. At, the same time current flows from L1 through I, 2, 45, 3, 4, 29, 41, motor 28, 48 and L2, thus actuating the timer motor 28. ,The shaft 23, and knob 38 are then intermittently progressed from position A to position B, where contact 8 is moved away from I; 6 is moved to 5; and II is moved to I2. This energizes the starting coil of motor 53 from Li, I, 2, 48, 49, 5, 6, 28, 88, 53 and ill to L2. It also energizes the running coil from L1, I, 2, 82, 38, II, I2, 83, 53, 8| and L2. The motor 53 is therefore started and caused to run on the starting and running windings thereafter. Since the transmission solenoid 54 is deenergized, the agitator 5i is agitated. After a suitable interval of time, as at C, the starting winding of the motor 53 is deenergized by opening contacts 5 and 6. The washing operation continues, (agitator action) for the selected number of minutes, until the position D is reached. Should the user desire a shorter washing period than the 10 minutes indicated on the timer, he may advance the knob 36 manually to a shorter period, such as to an 8, 6 or other minute period. when position Dis reached, contacts 5 and 3 are'cloeed, as are also 8 and 9. The closing of contacts 8 and 3 energizcs solenoid 54, if 'the door 58 is closed, and starts the tub 58 to spin. The starting winding of the motor 53 is again energized by the closing of contacts 5 and 5 because acceleration is necessary, and the motor is slowed down to a speed requiring the starting winding to aid in getting the tub up to speed. The circuit to the solenoid 54 is from L1 through ,I, 2, 42, 3i, 8, 3, 84, I8, 51, I1, 85, 54, 88 and La. However, should the door 58 be opened while the spinning operation progresses or if the door has been left open, then no spinning of the tub can take place, since the solenoid 54 cannot be energized because the switch 51 is open. The water inthe tub is discharged over the rim of the'tub into sump I88, and thence through pipe III, pump I82 to the sewer drain connector I83.

As the timer continues to rotate, theposition E is reached where the starting winding is deenergized by the opening of contacts 5 and 8. When the position F is reached contact 8 is moved from 9 and II from I2. This deenergizes the solenoid 54 and the motor 53 and stopsthe spinning operathe contacts 5 and 8 are closed together with contacts I I and I2. This stops the flow of water and energizes the starting "and running windings of the motor 53 and agitates the clothes in a tepid rinsing water.

At I contact 8 is moved from 5, thus deenerglzing the starting winding of motor 53, the motor 53 continuing to run on the running winding; From H toflJ, the agitator 5| is reciprocated. At J contact 5 closes on 5 while contact 8 closes on 8. If the door 56 is closed, the tub 58 starts to spin; but if the door .is already open, then the tub does not spin but the agitator reciprocates. At K the starting winding is deenergized by the opening of con-' tacts 5 and 8. At L the spinning operation is terminated by the opening of contacts 8 and 8 and I I and I2. The water in the tub is discharged by the spinning operation as before described. At M the mixed water solenoid 52 is opened by the closing of contacts I8 and II. The filling operation continues until N is reached, when contacts I8 and II are opened while 5 and Ii, and II and I2 are closed. This stops the filling operation and starts the reciprocation of the agitator, the motor 53 running on both its starting and running windings. At 0 the starting winding is deenergized by the opening of contacts 5 and 6. At P the contacts 5 and B are closed as are also contacts 8 and 9. This starts a. spinning operation, the motor 53 running on both windings until positiorf'Q, when the starting winding is deener gized by the opening of contacts 5 and 6. At R the spinning operation is terminated by the opening of contacts 8 and 9 and II and I2. It should be noted that, if the door 55 should be opened at any time during the interval between P and R the spinning operation will be stopped and changed to agitation by the deenergization of spin solenoid 54. If the door had been left open before the reaching of this spinning operation, the basket will not spin but will be agitated.

Thereafter the timer continues to run until position S is reached when the contacts 3 and l are opened, thus deenergizing the timer motor 20. At this time the entire washing operation is terminated. r

The opening'of the door 56 does not interfere with any filling or agitation operations, such as occur between the intervals A to D, F to J, and L to P. The opening of door 56 also does not interfere with the operation of timer motor 20 at any time. However, should the door 58 be opened during the normally spin periods D to F, J to L, P to R, the spinning action is stopped and changed to agitation. Likewise, should the door 56 be left open, and one of the said normally spin periods be reached, the agitator Si is reciprocated, and no spinning action is produced. Danger of injury to the user is thus avoided.

While the form of embodiment of the invention as herein disclosed, constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted, as may come within the scope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. A control switch means for washing machines including: a power motor; a power motor switch; a. spin switch; an agitation switch; an axially movable and rotatable timer shaft actuating said switches by rotation of said shaft: a door switch; said door switch enabling said power motor switch, said spin switch and said agitation switch when the door of the door switch is closed, and enabling said power motor switch, and agitation switch but disabling said spin switch when the door of said door switch is open; and a master switch in series with said switches and opened and closed by axial movement of said timer shaft.

2. A control switch means for washing machines including: a power motor; a power motor switch; a spin switch; an agitation switch, a filling switch; a timer motor, and an axially movable and rotatable timer shaft having cams and rotatably driven by said timer motor for operating said switches; a door switch; said door switch, when its door is closed, enabling said power motor, spin, agitation, and filling switches; said door switch, when its door is open, enabling said power motor, agitation and fillingswitches, but disabling said spin switch; and a master switch in series with said switches and opened andclosed by axial movement of said timer shaft.

KENDALL CLARK.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the tile of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,582,268 Husted' Apr. 27, 1926 2,161,604 Watts June 6, 1939 2,176,954 Clark Oct. 24, 1939 2,233,362 Beeman Feb. 25, 1941 2,302,012 Dyer Nov. 17, 1942 2,302,836 Breckenridge Nov. 24, 1942 2,321,641 Anderson June 15, 1943 2,325,663 Claybourn Aug. 3, 1943 2,355,162 Hovey Aug. 8, 1944 

